Benefits of Medication-Assisted Treatment
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Using Medications to Treat Addiction
Are you struggling with addiction? If so, FDA-Approved prescription medications might be the answer for you. Prescription medications can help break your drug addiction and get you back on track. FDA-approved treatments have been proven to reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms in people who are addicted to drugs like nicotine, alcohol, opiates (e.g., heroin), and benzodiazepines (e.g., Xanax).
At Quest Recovery Center, We Utilize the Benefits of the Following Medications in Our Treatment Approach
Suboxone
Suboxone is a prescription narcotic that is used to treat opioid addiction. It consists of the chemicals buprenorphine and naloxone. Buprenorphine, a partial opioid agonist, inhibits opiate receptors and reduces cravings. The second component, Naloxone, aids in the reversal of effects.
Zubsolv
Zubsolv is a brand-name solution that includes buprenorphine and naloxone. It was authorized by the FDA one year after Suboxone for the treatment of opioid addiction and dependence. This medicine, like Suboxone, is a Schedule III controlled substance that can be given only by physicians who have received special training.
Subutex
Subutex is a drug used to treat opioid addiction that contains only buprenorphine. This buccal film may be used to alleviate severe pain that necessitates around-the-clock, long-term opioid treatment in cases where other pain medications were ineffective or couldn't be tolerated.
Narcan
Pure naloxone, commonly referred to as its brand name, Narcan, is a drug that reverses the harmful effects of an opioid overdose. Heroin, hydrocodone, morphine, oxycodone, and other opioid analgesics are examples of opioids that have overdoses commonly treated by Narcan. Naloxone is a medication that can be used to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, allowing users to survive until emergency medical personnel arrive after calling 911.
Using Medications to Manage Recovery
FDA-Approved medications such as Suboxone, Subutex, and Zubsolv fight fire with fire by using a narcotic substance, buprenorphine, to subdue the effects of drug withdrawal. Naloxone, a drug that reverses the effects of an opioid overdose, is also sometimes used to help with withdrawal symptoms and even in life-saving situations.
Understanding Buprenorphine
Buprenorphine is one of the leading drugs used in the fight against opioid addiction and overdose. FDA-approved buprenorphine products include Suboxone, Zubsolv, and Subutex. These medications are usually prescribed to mitigate the withdrawal symptoms of quitting narcotic drugs, both prescription and non. While addictive by nature, buprenorphine does not carry the same risks of overdose and death that other narcotic medications do. This makes it extremely effective at reorienting addictive individuals away from substances that pose a serious risk to them. In one study performed by the CDC, addicted individuals receiving buprenorphine were 95% less likely to die by suicide or accidental drug overdose than those not receiving medicated-assisted treatment, or MAT.
Understanding Naloxone
Naloxone is a non-narcotic prescription medication that is often used in conjunction with buprenorphine for the ongoing treatment of withdrawal symptoms. It has also been shown to be effective in saving the lives of individuals who have overdosed on narcotics. According to a study recorded in the US National Library of Medicine, rates of naloxone efficacy in situations where an individual has overdosed on opioids is above 75%, meaning it saves as many as three out of four lives in emergency overdose situations. Naloxone is a safe and non-addictive drug when used in normal dosages for the treatment of opioid overdose, which is why the professionals at Quest Recovery Center are strong advocates of its use in medicated-assisted treatment.